Kofun refers to a Japanese period or era in art history. It roughly covers the time period between 200 CE - 500 CE. It is oldest era of recorded history in Japan.  Kofun period got its name from the type of burial mounting dating from this era. Yayoi period (c. 200 BCE - 200 CE) preceded Kofun period and Asuka period (552-645) followed Kofun.